Dakota Fanning, Movie Star and Child Actress
A Film Profile of a Rising Young Actress in 'Big Name' Movies
Jul 29, 2009
Dakota Fanning was born Hannah Dakota Fanning on February 23 1994 in Conyers, Georgia, to parents Joy and Steve Fanning; born of Irish and German descent, Hannah Dakota Fanning is now known as Dakota Fanning, the child actress who rose to stardom at young age. Dakota Fanning is also the older sister of (Mary) Elle Fanning (born April 9 1998) who is a young child actress too.
Dakota Fanning: Acting Debut
Dakota Fanning made her acting debut at the age of 5 years old in a national TV advertisement for Tide detergent; in addition to the many movie roles which followed, Dakota Fanning also played guest roles in many TV programs including ER, Ally McBeal, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Friends. However, Dakota Fanning's big break came in 2001, at the age of 7 years old.
Dakota Fanning: Movie Career Premiere
In 2001, Dakota Fanning made a couple of movies, Tom Cats and Father Xmas; however, her big break came with the movie I Am Sam in which she starred alongside Sean Penn, as his screen daughter, Lucy. Dakota Fanning was nominated for the Screen Guild Award (SAG) for her role in I Am Sam, making her one of the youngest actresses in history to receive this nomination.
Dakota Fanning's sister, Elle Fanning, played the younger version of Dakota in I Am Sam, at the age of just 2 years; since then, both Dakota and Elle Fanning have starred in other movies together, although Elle Fanning often plays the younger version of Dakota, in separate scenes.
Dakota Fanning: Film History 2002 to 2005
From 2002 to 2005, Dakota Fanning played voice-over roles and young girls in various situations; these included:
- Trapped (2002) with Charlize Theron
- Sweet Home Alabama (2002) as the younger version of Reese Witherspoon
- Hansel and Gretel (2002)
- Uptown Girls (2003) with Britney Murphy
- Dr Seuss The Cat in the Hat (2003)
- Man on Fire (2004) with Denzel Washington
- Hide and Seek (2005) with Robert De Niro
- Nine Lives (2005)
- Dreamer (2005) with Kurt Russell
- War of the Worlds (2005) as the daughter of Tom Cruise.
Dakota Fanning in Hounddog
In 2006, although Dakota Fanning starred in Charlotte's Web as the young farm girl Fern, Dakota was also the star of a more disturbing movie, Hounddog; in Hounddog, Dakota Fanning plays 9 year old Lewellen in 1950's Alabama. It is the controversial rape scene depicted by Dakota Fanning, as Lewellen in Hounddog, which marked the change from the previous 'child' star roles of Dakota Fanning.
Dakota Fanning: From Child Star to 'Mature' Actress
Dakota Fanning's 2008 movies included Fragments (with Forest Whitaker and Kate Beckinsdale), Coraline (a voice over role in a 'dark animation) and The Secret Life of Bees (which also starred Jennifer Hudson). The movie roles which Dakota Fanning has recently taken appear to mark her 'maturity' into more 'adult' movie roles.
In 2009, Dakota Fanning starred in Push, with Chris Evans, a dark science fiction thriller set in Hong Kong; in Push, Dakota Fanning plays Cassie Holmes, a 'mature',young girl with the ability to 'see' the future. Dakota Fanning's other 2009 release The Twilight Saga: New Moon (scheduled for release in late 2009) is the next installment of the Twilight movie series. As Dakota Fanning's movie roles become more mature and diverse, it will be interesting to watch the transition of this young movie star's mesmerizing performance into adulthood, both on and off screen.
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